Mauritius Online Information

Mediatic Coverage

As from its early stages of development, Racing in Mauritius has always been largely covered by the Media. But over the past decades, the racing mediatic impact has been more and more important: all racing events are programmed live on the radio and since 1996 on T.V as well. Two special T.V programs are devoted to the weekly race meetings and the demand for more pragmatic information is constantly expanding. In the Press, special magazines have been developed to feed racegoers with more and more detailed rational information. In 1991, the Club developed its own weekly specialised publication called “RACETIME” to present an objective approach to racing in general, and to help racegoers in their analysis of the various factors influencing the chances of a horse.

Betting

Somehow, in its cultural heritage, the Mauritian population is characterised by widespread gambling habits. Over the years, betting at the races became more and more important. Traditionally, betting was organised through the Bookmakers who offer win bets only. They had total freedom in the calculation and determination of the odds. Next to betting at the bookies, the public had access to various lotteries (Merven, Poupard and the 10 cents Lottery) based on the races’ result. Since 1991, the Tote System operates in parallel with the Bookies. Betting facilities at the racecourse are now well diversified to meet the public demand and with the numerous betting counters, all forms of betting have been made readily accessible. Following the publication of the race card on Thursdays for Saturday meetings, effervescence starts to build up and though betting is carried out on course only-from a Government’s decision – the more enthusiastic racegoers still come at the bookmakers’ counters, to study the odds up to two days before a racemeeting. Telephone betting was introduced on the Tote in 1994 and through Bookmaker companies in 2002.

Improved quality of the horses in competition

Local racing is characterised by a relatively low prize-money level but the stables are highly subsidised for the maintenance of their stables. As horseracing kept drawing bigger and bigger crowds, sponsors showed more interest for racing events and the Stakes Money significantly increased. As a result, the stables’ financial situation improved and though some stables are still relying on betting for funds, the situation is less problematic. The M.T.C would accordingly welcome more race meetings (now 29 per year) so as to be able to significantly increase the prize money. In the past few years, the financial evolution trend has been positive.

On the other hand, the pressure on the jockeys to produce results has been building up as the stables’ investments became more and more important. In parallel with the horses’ origin, the majority of foreign jockeys riding in Mauritius come from the different provinces of South Africa while Australia, France and Britain remain other potential sources for stables to recruit jockeys. In fact, for the first International Jockeys’ Day, organised in 1984, foreign jockeys were coming from these four countries.

Growing Influence of the Mauritian Jockeys and bigger Apprentices.

In the early 1980’s, the schooling of Mauritian riders was developed by the Club and at the end of the 1980’s, two professional jockeys and a homogeneous group of apprentices were riding in competition. The gap separating the Mauritian jockeys and the foreign riders is significantly narrowing. The M.T.C is justly proud of its achievements in the schooling of our local horse riders, who, with the cooperation of the Jockey Club of the South Africa’s Jockeys Academy have been admitted therein for special 3 months’ courses. Some of our jockeys and apprentice jockeys have had the occasion to ride in South Africa, England, Zimbabwe, Macau, Australia and in India and have been quite successful. The M.T.C intends to pursue in this field and thus give an opening to some of our deserving riders.

Turnover and Financial Assets

Over the past decades, the turnover of the Mauritius Turf Club has been regularly

increasing, but in 1990, with the number of meetings limited to 23, the turnover was significantly affected. In 1997, the turnover of Rs.114 millions was achieved whereby limiting the financial provisions that the Club could make to support its development projects. The income pattern of the M.T.C is derived from the following items: Bookmakers (41%), tickets and programmes (24%), the Tote (21%), lotteries and bets (7%), and others (12%). The main expenses incurred by the Club are: Prizes and subsidies (34%), upgrading of track and other racing costs (21%), wages and salaries (15%) and general expenses (transport, insurance, taxes, upkeeping of buildings, etc..) (7%). In order to attract more investors and to increase the number of horses entered for races, the Club’s priority was to raise the Stakes Money significantly and, over the past five years, prize money was increased by 195%, as permitted by the non profit-making characteristic of the organisation.

In 1990 the M.T.C has created the M.T.C Trust Fund with a view to being able, whenever funds make it possible, to help NGOs in their charitable and social projects.